More Raptors Coming To Langley?

HAMPTON — Troubled by a steady decline at Langley Air Force Base, three Hampton Roads congressmen are suggesting several expansions, including bringing in more F-22 Raptors.

The three wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley asking him to consider an additional squadron of the new fighters for the Hampton installation. They also suggested that Langley could accommodate the upcoming F-35 fighter.

The bipartisan appeal comes from Democrats Glen Nye, of Norfolk, and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, of Newport News, along with Republican Rob Wittman, of Westmoreland County.

Langley contributed about $1.2 billion to the local economy last year, but that is down about $400 million from 2005, according to an Air Force study released this summer.

More cuts are coming.

A proposed Air Force-wide restructuring would result in the net loss of 399 military personnel and 18 F-15 fighters at Langley. Although the base would gain 125 civilian jobs, the downward trend has been years in the making. In 2006, the Pentagon cut 630 jobs at Langley and another 250 jobs moved to Texas in 2008, the letter notes.

Langley is the oldest continuously active air base in the United States and the only Air Force base in Virginia. It is the headquarters of Air Combat Command, the primary provider of combat air power to America's various war fighting commands. And one of the largest fighter units in ACC is at Langley, the 1st Fighter Wing.

"It makes sense for Langley to be the home base for additional F-22s, and when the F-35 comes online, Langley should be a top candidate for one or more squadrons," Nye said. "This is not a partisan issue."

The future of the Raptor has been the source of much debate in Washington. The Obama administration plans to halt production of the fighter and spend more resources on the F-35 Lightning II. But the existing Raptors will remain a familiar sight in the skies over Hampton Roads.

"Increasing the number of squadrons at LAFB could result in efficiencies in maintenance and operation of the overall F-22 fleet," the letter states.

Other F-22 squadrons are located at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska and Holloman AFB in New Mexico. Additional Raptors are at Edwards AFB in California for testing, and at Nellis and Tyndall bases in Nevada and Florida for training purposes.

Future basing of the Navy version of the F-35 at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach "may provide an opportunity to realize additional joint efficiencies for F-35s at Langley," the letter states.

In addition, the congressmen suggest Langley for other expansions, including cyber-operations and training and unmanned systems.

The base "has great potential to take on additional emerging joint and primary missions with its unique capabilities and strategic mission," Wittman said.

Nye and Wittman both serve on the House Armed Services Committee.

SIGNS OF DECLINE

$400 million

Estimated decrease in Langley's annual contribution to the local economy since 2005